The University of Texas at Austin announced on Monday that it will once again require standardized tests for admissions, joining other selective universities in reinstating SAT or ACT score requirements that were waived during the pandemic.
Several years ago, approximately 2,000 colleges nationwide began moving away from mandatory test scores due to concerns about contributing to inequality. However, many of these schools, including Brown, Yale, Dartmouth, M.I.T., Georgetown, and Purdue, have recently reversed their policies and reintroduced test requirements.
U.T. Austin, which aims to increase opportunity in Texas by admitting a diverse group of high-achieving students, stated a different reason for reinstating test requirements. University officials found that without test scores, they struggled to place students in appropriate programs and identify those in need of additional support. Therefore, starting from August 1, applicants for fall 2025 admissions must submit either SAT or ACT scores.
In an interview, U.T. President Jay Hartzell explained that the decision was based on an analysis of students who did not submit scores and discovered that they were not performing as well.
Critics of testing requirements argue that standardized tests are unfair as students from affluent backgrounds often have access to tutors and coaches to improve their scores. However, recent data suggests that making test scores optional may disadvantage students from low-income families.
U.T. Austin operates under a race-neutral admissions policy to allow a broader range of students to attend. While 75% of Texas students admitted are “automatic admits,” other students are evaluated holistically, including their standardized test scores.
The university’s vice provost of admissions, Miguel Wasielewski, emphasized the importance of test scores in providing detailed information for placement and support.
At U.T. Austin, students are asked to rank their preferred study programs, and test scores assist in placing them in suitable majors and identifying those in need of additional support to improve graduation rates. The university’s four-year graduation rate has increased to 74.5% in 2023.
Test scores play a crucial role in determining student success in rigorous programs like engineering and business, according to Dr. Hartzell.
Data from the university’s first-year class showed that students who submitted test scores had higher GPAs and were less likely to have low grades in their first semester.
Dr. Hartzell mentioned that the university consulted with the College Board and found that nearly 90% of U.T. Austin applicants have taken either the SAT or ACT.
